Swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment

ABSTRACT

A swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment having a pair of drive rods driven by the pedal rods such that longitudinal drive gears fixed at the drive rods are cooperated with swing handles having the lateral drive gears for conducting a swing action. In this way, a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles to take exercise at his feet of the lower body.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 7,794,361 and entitled “SWING HANDLE ARRANGEMENT FOR AN EXERCISE EQUIPMENT”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment, and more particularly, to a structure through which a leg movement of the lower body and a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved.

2. Description of the Related Art

As well-known, the fitness apparatus used for training the legs, such as fitness bike, treadmills or elliptical cross trainers, etc. is provided with structure on which the operator's feet stand. Some of the above-mentioned apparatuses include additional coupled handles on which both hands of the operator hold. However, they can be held by both hand of the operator only for conducting a forward and backward swing action that simulates the movement of the extremities when people walk or run. In other words, the upper body of the operator such as abdominal muscle can not be trained at the same time.

In order to resolve the above-mentioned problem, another structure disclosed in US Pat. Appl. No. 2006/0293153 aims to achieve a synchronic stretching-forward effect of both hands (like the boxing action in the boxing game) when both feet of the operators conducts a treading movement.

The stretching-forward action of the upper limbs may achieve the training effect of the arm strength. However, it is not beneficial to the waist and abdominal muscles of the operator. When the operator requires the training of his waist and abdominal muscles, another fitness apparatuses must be used to fulfill his personal needs. As a result, the conventional apparatus requires further improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the invention is to provide a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment that achieves the effect of training the legs at the lower body and the effect of twisting the waist and abdominal muscles of the upper body of the operator only by use of a single exercise equipment through a synchronic coupled and swing movement of his upper and lower body. In this way, an overall training and fitness effect is achieved, thereby increasing the application value and the body-building effect.

According to the invention, a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment includes a pair of drive rods driven by the pedal rods such that longitudinal drive gears fixed at the drive rods are cooperated with swing handles having the lateral drive gears for conducting a swing action. In this way, a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles to take exercise at his feet of the lower body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.

First of all, a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 that is applied to an elliptical cross trainer 100. According thereto, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a base frame 10, two drive rods 20, and two swing handles 30.

The base frame 10 includes a front ground-touching rod 12 with rollers 11 at both sides thereof, a rear ground-touching rod 13, a front support 14, and two pedal-connecting rods 15. An electronic console 16 and a fixed type handle unit 17 are provided at the top of the front support 14.

The drive rods 20 are at the bottom thereof pivotally coupled to the front end of the pedal-connecting rods 15 to create a coupled relationship. The other end of the drive rods 30 is pivotally connected to a first cross shaft 141 of the front support 14. A longitudinal drive gear 21 is positioned at the top of the drive rods 20, respectively.

The swing handles 30 are formed in a bent shape and pivotally coupled to a second cross shaft 142 of the front support 14. The swing handles 40 further include a lateral drive gear 41 opposite to the longitudinal drive gear 21 such that a reliable engagement is achieved.

Based on the assembly of the above-mentioned components, a synchronic movement is achieved when the operator steps on the pedal-connecting rods 15 to make a to-and-fro movement or uses his both hands to push the swing handles 30 to swing to the right and left sides. Moreover, a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles 40 to take exercise at his feet of the lower body.

The elliptical cross trainer 100 is a conventional equipment. The coupled relationship between the rear side of the pedal-connecting rods 15 and the transmission unit (not shown) belongs to the prior art so that no further descriptions thereto are given hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 2, in which another embodiment of the elliptical cross trainer 400 is illustrated, a transmission unit 41 is provided at the front end of a base frame 40 and pivotably coupled to the front end of the pedal-connecting rods 15. The pedal-connecting rods 15 are slidably positioned on a guide rail 42, respectively. Moreover, a coupled rod 18 is pivotably attached to the side of each pedal-connecting rod 15 while each of the drive rods 20 is pivotably connected to the other end of the coupled rod 18. In this way, the same exercise features and effects can be achieved, too.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is fitted to a fitness bike 500 without problem.

Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment, comprising: a) a base frame having a front ground-touching rod with rollers at both sides thereof, a rear ground-touching rod, a front support, and two pedal-connecting rods, an electronic console and a fixed type handle unit being provided at the top of the front support; b) two drive rods at the bottom thereof pivotally coupled to the front end of the pedal-connecting rods to create a coupled relationship, the other end of the drive rods being pivotally connected to a first cross shaft of the front support, a longitudinal drive gear being positioned at the top of the drive rods, respectively; and c) two swing handles formed in a bent shape and pivotally coupled to a second cross shaft of the front support, the swing handles further having a lateral drive gear opposite to the longitudinal drive gear such that a reliable engagement is achieved.
 2. A swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment, comprising: a) a base frame having a front ground-touching rod with rollers at both sides thereof, a rear ground-touching rod, a front support, and two pedal-connecting rods, an electronic console and a fixed type handle unit being provided at the top of the front support; b) two drive rods at the bottom thereof pivotally coupled to the front end of the pedal-connecting rods to create a coupled relationship, the other end of the drive rods being pivotally connected to a first cross shaft of the front support, a longitudinal drive gear being positioned at the top of the drive rods, respectively; c) a coupled rod at one end thereof pivotably attached to the side of each pedal-connecting rod while the other end thereof is pivotably connected to the bottom of the drive rods; and d) two swing handles formed in a bent shape and pivotally coupled to a second cross shaft of the front support, the swing handles further having a lateral drive gear opposite to the longitudinal drive gear such that a reliable engagement is achieved. 